An anniversary celebration turned into an extraordinary wildlife encounter when Shannon and Stetson spotted an unidentified bipedal figure while riding the historic Durango to Silverton train through Colorado's San Juan mountains. What began as a casual search for elk from the rear open-air gondola quickly escalated into excitement when Stetson noticed unusual movement on the mountainside. His startling observation—"It looks like Bigfoot"—prompted fellow passenger Brandon to immediately begin recording what would become compelling video evidence of the encounter.

The sighting, which has since attracted media attention including coverage in Newsweek, carries unusual credibility due to multiple witness corroboration and the unexpected circumstances of the encounter. As the train continued its three-and-a-half hour journey back to Durango, passengers examined possible explanations—ruling out hunters due to closed bear season and required orange safety clothing—while a train employee inadvertently lent credibility to their experience by sharing his own story of discovering unexplained large tracks while snowshoeing in the same mountain range. Despite the footage gaining wider attention, Brandon, who captured the video, has chosen to remain anonymous rather than becoming known as "the guy who shot that Bigfoot video."

Key Takeaways

A couple's anniversary train ride through Colorado's mountains led to an unexpected Bigfoot sighting captured on video.
Multiple witnesses on the train observed the creature, which blended remarkably well with its natural surroundings.
The encounter has gained significant media attention while the original videographer has chosen to remain private despite capturing compelling evidence.

The Bigfoot Encounter

Shannon's Account

Shannon explained that the incident occurred during an anniversary train ride from Durango to Silverton, which her husband had arranged as a surprise gift. While traveling back from Silverton, they were seated in the last two spots on the rear open-air gondola of the train. As they passed through an open mountainous area, Shannon asked her husband to help look for elk in the landscape.

Her husband suddenly mentioned seeing something moving, which he thought resembled Bigfoot. Immediately, another passenger named Brandon who was sitting nearby began recording video of the sighting on his cell phone. Shannon attempted to use her SLR camera with zoom capability to capture clearer images of the figure, though she found it difficult to locate the subject as it blended well with the surroundings.

She managed to snap a few photographs before the train rounded a mountain bend, causing the figure to disappear from view. The event sparked significant discussion among nearby passengers for the remainder of the three-hour journey back to Durango.

Stetson's Perspective

Stetson confirmed the accuracy of Shannon's account, explaining that when his wife asked him to look for elk, he was particularly enthusiastic because it was hunting season when elk typically enter rut. While scanning the terrain, he noticed something moving that he couldn't immediately identify.

"I was trying to reason with myself about what I was seeing," Stetson recalled. Despite attempting to be rational, he couldn't identify the figure as any known animal or person, eventually telling his wife it resembled Bigfoot. This statement created excitement among nearby passengers.

Stetson noted the surreal nature of potentially observing a creature whose existence he had previously questioned. During the remainder of the journey, the group discussed various possibilities about what they had witnessed—considering whether it might have been a publicity stunt or perhaps a hunter in camouflage. They ruled out the hunter theory since bear season had concluded, and hunters would have been required to wear orange vests according to Colorado regulations.

When questioning a train employee about potential staged encounters for passengers' entertainment, they were told no such practices existed. The employee even shared his own unexplained experience involving unusual tracks while snowshoeing in the San Juan mountains, adding credibility to their sighting.

Post-Trip Analysis

Train Journey Reflections

The return trip from Silverton to Durango lasted approximately three and a half hours, providing ample time for discussion about what had just been witnessed. The passengers seated in the open-air gondola section engaged in lively conversation about the sighting. Multiple people reviewed the video footage and photographs captured during the encounter. The atmosphere was one of excitement and curiosity, with everyone trying to make sense of what they had observed in the San Juan mountains.

Alternative Explanations Examined

Several theories were considered during the group discussion. Was it truly Bigfoot? Could it have been a publicity stunt arranged by the train company? Might it have been a hunter in a ghillie suit? The consensus among those who witnessed the figure was that it wasn't a hunter, as no weapons were visible. Additionally, bear hunting season had concluded, and Colorado hunting regulations would have required hunters to wear orange safety clothing. The creature's ability to blend with the terrain made it difficult to spot even with high-powered camera equipment, suggesting natural camouflage rather than deliberate concealment.

Train Personnel Encounter

The group decided to consult with a train staff member who came to their section to light the lanterns. When asked directly if the train company orchestrated such sightings as entertainment for passengers, the employee firmly denied any such practices. This conversation took an interesting turn when, after being shown the video, the staff member shared his own unexplained experience in the San Juan mountains. He described discovering large tracks while snowshoeing that couldn't be explained as human footprints or conventional snowshoe impressions. This account from someone familiar with the area lent additional credibility to what the passengers had witnessed and recorded earlier that day.

Shannon and Stetson's Evidence

Shannon and Stetson's encounter occurred during an anniversary train ride from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. The couple was seated in the last two spots on the back open-air gondola of the train. As they were returning from Silverton, Shannon asked her husband to help look for elk in the mountainside.

While scanning the landscape, Stetson noticed movement. Initially trying to identify what he was seeing, he eventually told Shannon, "I think I see something moving" and then, "It looks like Bigfoot." A fellow passenger named Brandon immediately began recording video of the sighting on his cell phone.

Shannon attempted to capture the figure with her SLR camera but had difficulty locating it because the subject blended well with the surroundings. She managed to snap a few photos before the train rounded a mountain, taking the figure out of view.

The sighting sparked immediate discussion among nearby passengers. Several people gathered to view what was happening, though not everyone had cameras ready to document the event. The group spent the remaining 3.5-hour train ride analyzing what they had witnessed.

Key factors that made the group believe this wasn't a hoax or misidentification:

No hunting weapons were visible on the figure
Bow season had ended, requiring hunters to wear orange and carry rifles
The figure blended remarkably well with natural surroundings
A train employee confirmed they don't stage such events for passengers

The train employee shared his own unexplained experience of finding large, unusual tracks while snowshoeing in the San Juan mountains, adding credibility to their sighting.

Brandon, who captured the video, shared it with approximately seven families from the train but preferred to remain private about his role in documenting the encounter. He specifically gave the footage to Shannon and Stetson since they were the first to spot the figure.

Brandon's Video and Anonymity

I pointed out something moving in the mountains during our train ride from Silverton to Durango. The movement caught my eye while searching for elk. Upon seeing it, I told my wife, "I think I see something moving... it looks like Bigfoot."

Brandon, who sat beside us, immediately grabbed his cell phone and started recording. This quick thinking preserved the moment on video while my wife attempted to capture it with her SLR camera. The sighting created quite a stir among nearby passengers.

After the sighting, Brandon shared the video with approximately seven families who were excited about the encounter. He specifically sent it to us because I was the first to spot the figure and my voice is heard on the recording.

Despite capturing this potentially significant footage, Brandon prefers to maintain his privacy. He doesn't want recognition or to be associated with the video. He's made it clear he doesn't want credit for the recording, choosing to remain anonymous rather than being "the guy known to have shot that."

Public Reaction to the Sighting

The Bigfoot sighting on the Durango to Silverton train caught immediate attention from fellow passengers. As soon as the creature was spotted, people nearby reacted with excitement and curiosity. Several families gathered to view the footage captured by Brandon, who happened to be recording when the sighting occurred.

During the three-and-a-half-hour return journey, passengers engaged in lively discussions about what they had witnessed. They debated various explanations, including whether it might have been a publicity stunt or a hunter in disguise. However, most dismissed the hunter theory since bear season had ended, and no weapons or required orange safety gear were visible.

The group sought confirmation from a train employee who was lighting lanterns nearby. When asked if the train company staged such events, he firmly denied any orchestrated stunts. Interestingly, this same employee shared his own unexplained experience of finding unusually large tracks while snowshoeing in the San Juan mountains, adding credibility to the passengers' sighting.

Brandon, who captured the video, shared it with approximately seven families from the train. While he provided the footage to the couple who first spotted the creature, he has since chosen to maintain his privacy. Despite the footage gaining wider attention, including coverage in Newsweek, Brandon has expressed no desire for recognition or to be associated with the sighting.

The story eventually reached Dr. Leo Rabe, a council member of the Society for Physical Research, who found the account compelling enough to share with others in the paranormal research community.

Witness Captures Stunning Bigfoot Sighting on Durango-Silverton Train Ride: Expert Analysis